Campaign finance reports now out for upcoming Hurley millage election

Journal File Photo 2007Hurley Medical Center's Level I Trauma Center is one of the health services that would be supported by a proposed countywide millage.

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- The Friends of Hurley have raised nearly a half-million dollars since Jan. 1 to get the word out on the Hurley millage campaign. They'd spent nearly $400,000 by the July 19 reporting deadline, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state Bureau of Elections.

The grassroots anti-tax group opposing it had raised $3,480 and spent less than $1,000 in that same period.

Whether each side got enough bang for their buck will be answered at the Aug. 4 polls. Whether it was money well spent depends on which side of the issue you're on.

Supporters say an intensive campaign was necessary to educate the public on confusing details such as the relationship between the city-owned hospital and the county it serves, and why language was added to the ballot explaining a state law on tax increment financing for downtown development authorities.

"Of all the millage elections I've ever been involved with, this is probably the most complicated because of the city status of the hospital," said Genesee County Commissioner Archie Bailey, who said he plans to donate $50 himself at a get-out-the-vote party this week. "The focus has been on informing people and that's good at any price. It's been a major educational process for everyone."

Hurley CEO Patrick Wardell agreed.

"There's been as many questions on the technicalities as the basics on this, but I think we've communicated our message about as well as we could," said Wardell. "Given the time frame we've had to accomplish this, it's been a fairly robust discussion."

Flint Journal extrasThe issue: Aug. 4 countywide ballot proposal on a 10-year request for 0.9 mills for health services at Hurley Medical Center. The millage is expected to generate $10 million in its first year.

Main Expenditures
$665.49 to Commercial Graphics in Burton
$170 to Genesee County Clerk
Total Spent: $835.49

Critics, however, point to the media campaign as an example of wasteful spending.

"If they really need the money, then why are they spending it on marketing? If they really need it for care, use it on care," said Cathy Tyler of Fenton, who donated to the opposition campaign, the Committee Against Tax Increases, a branch of the Genesee TEA Party.

CATI head Mike Gardner said he wasn't surprised at the numbers.

"Who wouldn't spend $500,000 to get $100 million?" said Gardner, referring to the estimated $10 million per year the 0.9 mill tax is expected to generate in 10 years. "Whenever you're able to concentrate the power to tax, there will be people willing to spend in order to get that windfall."

Both Gardner and Tyler said their position is less against Hurley than opposing higher taxation in general.

"In the budget at home we have to make choices and prioritize where we spend our money. The message we're trying to send is we want the government to start doing the same thing," said Tyler.

While Hurley concentrated its campaign on large-scale mailings and television ads, the anti-tax group spent most of its funds on campaign basics like door hangers and yard signs.

"I think it was a good expenditure of the money. Signs are a good way to get the message out in a fairly inexpensive way," said Tyler. "They're pretty visible when you're out driving around."

Maureen Bates of Burton said her donation to the Friends of Hurley was a memorial gift requested by the family of a late friend.

"I didn't realize it was going to support the millage campaign but that's fine with me," said Bates. "The information needs to be gotten out to the public. Hurley provides health care to people who wouldn't be able to have it otherwise. That's what the money is for."

Regardless of position, people on both sides agreed that getting the word out on any upcoming election is worth whatever your side can afford to spend.

"Going door-to-door, most of the people we talked to were not even aware this was going to be on the ballot on Aug. 4. It was amazing," said Tyler. "Especially right now, we need to start paying attention to what's happening in government and get out and vote, regardless which side of the fence we're on in any issue."

"It's nice to see how engaged everyone is with this because it is such an important community-wide issue," said Wardell. "Whether we're successful or not, we just want to make sure at the end of this that people come away feeling as strongly about Hurley as they did going into this process."